Rich: Fairfax Stars ED thinks Butler is bound for greatness

[pap49cba]

LINK

 

[DavidinNaples]

From the article....McCormick has no doubt that Butler will fit in well at UConn.

“Her work ethic is absolutely unbelievable,’’ McCormick said. “Geno will absolutely love this child. She’s dedicated. She works hard. When she came into our conditioning training (with the Fairfax Stars) she would run the floor like the guards. So he’s just going to love her. And I think with a year under his tutelage and his staff’s tutelage, you think Natalie had a great year this year, wait till she comes back because she does have to sit out a year. I’m excited.’’

Gee, I wonder if she is a "UConn type" of player...??

Go Huskies..!!

 

[psconn]

Yikes...

“Her work ethic is absolutely unbelievable,’’ McCormick said. “Geno will absolutely love this child. She’s dedicated. She works hard. When she came into our conditioning training (with the Fairfax Stars) she would run the floor like the guards. So he’s just going to love her. And I think with a year under his tutelage and his staff’s tutelage, you think Natalie had a great year this year, wait till she comes back because she does have to sit out a year. I’m excited.’’

I'm excited too... I was going to say how lucky Geno got getting this transfer out of the blue, but NB's decision is the result of GA and CD's uncompromising work at building a program that has become known for developing players, getting them "pro-ready" (as Mike T has said on many occasions), and WINNING.

We get lots of superstars in this program. But the kind of kids that UConn seems to get are not necessarily all the superstars, they are very good players who recognize that it takes hard work to be GREAT and are willing to be challenged. Players like Stef, Stewie, Kelly and many others are testimony to the kind of humble kids that are attracted by the promise of working hard for everything they get, knowing they'll be better for it. The kind of kid who signs her NLOI on the hood of a truck without a thought of a public event. And because those kids are in the company of teammates who feel the same way, they usually get to experience amazing things.

I guess we are really the lucky ones.

 

[winlots]

Be still my heart! Whoa......not THAT still. I'm an old person. (Gut instinct tells me this gal will be as good as ANY of our big kids by the time she leaves.....not sayin "better than"....saying "as good as any.:

 

[winlots]

PSCONN: we sure are the lucky ones......to have the opportunity to be in the midst of this kind of excellence for decades if you are a real basketball fan is an extraordinary stroke of good fortune.

 

[psconn]

Be still my heart! Whoa.not THAT still. I'm an old person. (Gut instinct tells me this gal will be as good as ANY of our big kids by the time she leaves.....not sayin "better than"....saying "as good as any.:

No matter where her achievement ceiling is, above all else, she sounds like she has the heart of a Husky and will end up being as good as she can possibly be. I suspect that will be pretty good.

 

[connboy77]

I'm waiting for fans of other teams to say, Butler was ranked 144 coming out of high school, how good can she be? I think that question is going to be answered in the very near future. Thank you miss Butler for choosing UCONN. We are all very happy to have you join our family.

 

[EricLA]

I'm waiting for fans of other teams to say, Butler was ranked 144 coming out of high school, how good can she be? I think that question is going to be answered in the very near future. Thank you miss Butler for choosing UCONN. We are all very happy to have you join our family.

It's already been asked. Still, she had a really solid junior year but verbaled to Georgetown early IIRC, and didn't blow up till her senior year. By that time, the "scouts" had largely overlooked her and moved on to other players. She wasn't in HG's top 100 (I didn't check, but Ken mentioned it) and I think was about 130+ on one list that went up to about 140. In a way you can't blame the scouting services - I'm not sure any of them were really aware of her, and she sort of flourished in obscurity.

Still, the work ethic and willingness to do whatever it takes to help her team win are 2 of the main ingredients for good players to become great, and as several of you pointed out, a full year and a half almost (if she goes to a summer session) with no pressure and a sponge-like mind to absorb and learn will pay big dividends for her remaining 3 years.

BTW one orange fan said (regarding her choosing UCONN), "So what - Russell will eat her for lunch". Um, yeah - cuz Russell was so much more impressive as a freshman...

 

[MilfordHusky]

If she is great, "Butler" will be the first name in the Gampel Wall of Honor under both genders. That may be too much to expect--or not--but she does have the Heart of a Husky and is very talented. She definitely does have a chance to be a WNBA first rounder. Size matters.

This past season, all 5 starters got some AA recognition. Get used to it! After the Stewie/MoJett/MoTuck era, when we have Natalie Dolson, Napheesa Moore, Kia Bird, Katie Lou Mosqueda-Lewis, and Asia Taurasi on the team, who makes which AA team?

 

[UConnCat]

I'm waiting for fans of other teams to say, Butler was ranked 144 coming out of high school, how good can she be? I think that question is going to be answered in the very near future. Thank you miss Butler for choosing UCONN. We are all very happy to have you join our family.

Her ranking in HS is irrelevant. She's played one year of Div I basketball and was unanimous pick for BE FOY. She racked up 20+ double doubles. Sure, the BE is not what it used to be, but she played well against some ranked teams (Cal and PSU). She put up 16 pts and 18 rebounds against the SEC's Florida.

 

[UConnCat]

Seton Hall's coach is impressed:

John Altavilla @jaltavilla · 22s
Seton hall coach @TonyBozzella says he won't be surprised if natalie butler an all-american someday #uconnwomen

[URL='https://twitter.com/jaltavilla']John Altavilla ‏@jaltavilla
Seton hall's @TonyBozzella says butler most impressive freshman he's coached against in his 14 years as Div 1 coach #uconnwomen
[/URL]

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's already been asked. Still, she had a really solid junior year but verbaled to Georgetown early IIRC, and didn't blow up till her senior year. By that time, the "scouts" had largely overlooked her and moved on to other players. She wasn't in HG's top 100 (I didn't check, but Ken mentioned it) and I think was about 130+ on one list that went up to about 140. In a way you can't blame the scouting services - I'm not sure any of them were really aware of her, and she sort of flourished in obscurity.

Still, the work ethic and willingness to do whatever it takes to help her team win are 2 of the main ingredients for good players to become great, and as several of you pointed out, a full year and a half almost (if she goes to a summer session) with no pressure and a sponge-like mind to absorb and learn will pay big dividends for her remaining 3 years.

BTW one orange fan said (regarding her choosing UCONN), "So what - Russell will eat her for lunch". Um, yeah - cuz Russell was so much more impressive as a freshman...

Natalie was the unanimous FOY in her conference, 3rd team All-Freshman nationally, the top frosh rebounder in the country, and the #5 rebounder nationally regardless of class. Mercedes, who may become an outstanding player, was none of those.

That claim reminds me of how Elizabeth Williams ate Kiah Stokes for lunch. What? It didn't work out that way? I like the UConn kids.

 

[baggerbob]

Butler is going to practice for a full year with Kiah, and Stewie, and that is a better pair of big's then Russell. After playing against Stewie, playing against Russell, will be taking a breather.